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After 17 years as a volunteer firefighter, Felicity Lang is stepping into the role of first female officer for the  Waipara Volunteer Fire Brigade. Felicity Lang has been answering the pager for nearly two decades. Now the Waipara volunteer firefighter is stepping into an officer role at the brigade, becoming the first woman to do so - although it’s not something she makes much of. To her, it is simply the next step. “I’m just one of the guys,” she says. “That’s how I look at

Ella Gorton with the new Ford Ranger Super Duty at the Wanaka A&P Show. Photo Claire Inkson With fuel prices climbing and global uncertainty starting to filter through to everyday decisions, the conversation around what people drive is shifting again. Petrol, diesel, hybrid - buyers are weighing it all up. At Macaulay Motors in Queenstown, Ella Gorton is having those conversations daily. There is interest in plug-in hybrids, she says, but for many South Island drivers - parti

Colin Maw with a vintage tractor and plough at the Methven A&P Show on March 14, ahead of the 2026 New Zealand Ploughing Championships. Claire Inkson Before GPS, before minimum till, before modern machinery - there was the plough. This April, that history returns to the paddock in Methven for the first time since 2010. The 2026 New Zealand Ploughing Championships and Methven Country Fair will bring together some of the country’s top ploughmen and women, along with a full week

The shores of Lake Hāwea Station will host the inaugural Aotearoa Stone Skimming Championships, with alpine views providing a dramatic backdrop for the event. What could be more kiwi than skimming stones? A flat rock, a stretch of water, a bit of friendly competition - and suddenly everyone’s eight years old again. That simple lakeside pastime is about to get a national stage, with the first-ever Aotearoa Stone Skimming Championships set for May 16 at Lake Hāwea Station. The

A big moment on stage as Bryce Win is named Tasman FMG Young Farmer of the Year. A win, a wedding, and a shot at the national title Less than two weeks out from his wedding, Bryce Win has added another milestone to what is already shaping up to be a big year. The 29-year-old Upper Moutere farmer was crowned Tasman’s FMG Young Farmer of the Year, earning his place at the Grand Final in July. “It is starting to sink in now,” Win said. “On the drive home, I realised I have actua

Thomas Slee after being crowned the 2026 Otago Southland FMG Young Farmer of the Year in Gore on February 7. Supplied Third time lucky for Slee in Otago Southland Young Farmer final Nightcaps dairy farmer Thomas Slee is heading to the FMG Young Farmer of the Year Grand Final after taking out the Otago Southland regional title in Gore on February 7. The 28-year-old accumulated 271 points across five demanding modules at the Gore A&P Showgrounds, finishing ahead of Henry Smith

Farmers and transport operators say rising fuel prices are already reshaping decisions on the ground, with pressure building across the entire rural supply chain.   Uncertainty is the word coming through loudest from rural New Zealand as fuel prices climb sharply off the back of the Iran conflict. Mid Canterbury farmer and Federated Farmers arable chairperson David Birkett says the impact is immediate - and far-reaching. “The vibe is uncertainty -everyone knows that fuel affe

1.      Most of Renae’s farming life had been spent in the North Island, where she was born and raised. South Otago brought a new climate, new systems and a steep learning curve. Supplied. Renae Flett did not grow up dreaming of becoming a dairy farmer. Her career began almost by accident. “I think it was from a friend who took me to where he was working one day, milking. And from then on I decided cows were fun,” she says. That was around 18 years ago. Since then, Renae has

EcoPond being applied on Cam Henderson’s Oxford farm - a simple system targeting methane at the pond level. Claire Inkson A Canterbury farm hosted a global delegation last week as Synlait and Nestlé showcased EcoPond - a New Zealand-developed system reducing methane emissions from effluent ponds by more than 90 percent. A busload of visitors pulled into Cam Henderson’s Oxford dairy farm on March 18, carrying a mix of Synlait staff and international guests - for many, their f

Richard Subtil (owner) – Omarama Station , Cassidy Grey (Zentera) on Omarama Station. Supplied After three decades building global demand for New Zealand’s finest wool, the New Zealand Merino Company is preparing for its next chapter. From March 17 the company will operate under a new name - Zentera Wool Company -a move CEO Angus Street says reflects both the changing global market for natural fibres and the company’s broader international role. Street describes the shift as

Ravensdown chief executive Garry Diack. Footrot Flats has been part of kiwi culture since it was created by Murray Ball in the 1970s. Supplied. After several tough seasons in the agriculture sector, there’s a sense things are finally turning, says Garry Diack, Ravensdown chief executive. “We’re a bit of a cork in the tide of farmer fortunes. When the fortunes are going well, so do we. The long-term outlook for sheep and beef has given a bit more confidence to the sales proces

Castle Ridge Station’s Paul and Kerry Harmer after being named Canterbury Regional Supreme Winners at the Ballance Farm Environment Awards. Supplied Castle Ridge Station’s Kerry Harmer says she and her family were “blown away” to be named the Canterbury Regional Supreme Winners at the Ballance Farm Environment Awards on March 5. “We were pretty overwhelmed,” she says. “We don’t really think we’re doing anything amazing. We just do what we think is right for us and for the pla

The Methven A&P Show is set to return on March 21, with a growing ute muster and a Ford Ranger world record attempt running alongside the day’s traditional programme. The ute-focused events have quickly become one of the show’s biggest drawcards, bringing an extra layer of energy and competition to the showgrounds. “There’s been a lot of talk about it. Every time I go out, someone mentions it,” show president Mike McKenzie said. With over $6000 worth of prizes up for grabs, h

For many, the first thing that comes to mind when the Mayfield Show is mentioned is the pig racing. There aren’t many events that can claim a century of crowds, competitions, and community spirit. But on March 14, the Mayfield A&P Show will do just that, celebrating its 100th show with a day that promises to be as lively and family-friendly as ever. From livestock judging to trade stalls, tractor pulls and the famous pig racing, the Mayfield Show has built a reputation as one

Gabe Ross (left) and Riley Meason became full time content creators last year. A turning point was when the pair entered and won the reality show ‘Tracked’. Supplied. Weekend Mish didn’t start as a business. It started with a group of mates filming their hunting trips for fun - and seeing what happened next. Today, best friends Gabe Ross and Riley Meason run one of New Zealand’s fastest-growing outdoor content platforms, sharing everything from farming skits to multi-day bush

The Gore-raised country artist Jenny Mitchell returns to the Wanaka A&P Show stage this year. Photo: Supplied Country artist Jenny Mitchell has spent the past year on big stages across Australia and New Zealand, opening for international acts, winning awards and building serious momentum.  But when she steps onto the Wanaka A&P Show stage on March 13 & 14, it’s a kind of homecoming. Because long before the tours and the awards, there were A&P shows, rural halls and small-town

A Merino ram is assessed during livestock judging, highlighting the strong agricultural focus at the heart of the Wānaka A&P Show. Supplied The Wānaka A&P Show has grown into one of the South Island’s biggest rural gatherings -  but at its heart, it remains exactly what an A&P show should be: a celebration of farming, families and community. Running over two days in mid-March, the show draws farmers from across the lower South Island, many of whom lock it into their calendars

Kerry Harmer, Paul Harmer and Ben Harmer on Castle Ridge Station, high in the Ashburton Gorge. Supplied. High in the Ashburton Gorge, Castle Ridge Station is the kind of place that doesn’t let you farm on autopilot. Frost can hit in any month. Snow isn’t off the table either. One day can be 30 degrees, the next can slide into a week of bitter cold. For Paul and Kerry Harmer, that reality has shaped a system built around flexibility, practicality, and a constant awareness of t

1.      No driving, no worries. Visitors to the North Canterbury Wine & Food Festival can rise the rails to the vent this year on The Mainlander Train. Supplied. There is something satisfying about arriving at a summer festival without the stress of driving, parking, and working out how you are getting home at the end of the day. On Sunday March 8, festivalgoers can do exactly that, with a dedicated passenger train running from Christchurch straight to the gates of the North

Jack Jordan in action, driving the axe into the block as chips fly. Supplied. World champion axeman Jack Jordan will be one of the headline acts at this year’s Amuri A&P Show on March 7, bringing international-level woodchopping back to a grassroots country stage. Jordan, who farms sheep and beef in the King Country, said balancing life on farm with competing at the top level of the sport was part of the job. “Farming certainly helps being reasonably fit, but when you are tra